Miss Universe Viet Nam 2017 H’Hen Nie has been named an ambassador for Room to Read, a global non-profit organisation focused on literacy and girls’ education.

H’Hen Nie (centre) was a guest speaker at a life skills session about early marriage and pregnancy in Tra Vinh Province. — Photos vietnamplus.vn

As a Room to Read ambassador, H’Hen Niê will participate in awareness raising activities to advocate Room to Read’s programmes in literacy and girls’ education, which enable students to reach their full potential and contribute to society.

“Growing up as an ethnic minority in Viet Nam, I have seen firsthand that education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty,” said H’Hen Nie. “I want children everywhere to flourish, dream big and have the resilience to overcome obstacles."

H’Hen Nie has committed to a personal fundrasing goal of US$22,000 to fund the creation of a Room to Read library stocked with quality reading materials in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong as well as the support of 50 girls across Asia and Africa to complete secondary school and develop key life skills through Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Programme, the organisation announced on Monday.

“Room to Read is equipping young women with the skills to exude confidence and bravery so that they may dare to dream and pursue a path that they choose for themselves, rather than the one forced upon them.”

H’Hen Nie, a native from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, is of the E De group, an ethnic minority in Viet Nam, and comes from a farmer family. She was crowned Miss Universe Viet Nam in 2017 and will compete at the Miss Universe 2018 in December in Thailand.  

Her passion for Room to Read’s mission stems from her personal experience of overcoming obstacles, including working multiple jobs as a housekeeper and waitress, to finance her own education and pursue her dreams.

Since being crowned Miss Universe Viet Nam, she has participated in community activities across Viet Nam. Earlier this year, she engaged with Room to Read’s Girls’ Education Programme in the southern province of Trà Vinh, where she was a guest speaker at a life skills session about early marriage and pregnancy with a cohort of female students supported by the programme. She also addressed male students about their role in building healthy and respectful relationships with young women.

Founded in 2000, Room to Read has benefited 12.4 million children across more than 20,000 communities in 15 countries. — VNS